Valentine�s Day - A Muslim�s View

As'salamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

With Valentine's Day coming up on Feb-14, men and women around the world {this is no longer just a American or European custom}, will be shelling out millions to but Cards, gifts, flowers and various other  Valentine's Day paraphernalia for their loved ones. But the loved ones here are usually husbands/wives, boy'girl friends. On occasion , some people give cards to friends and classmates but the focus of the valentine's day observance is on the opposite sex. Choclates, flowers hearts, cards and romance ; these are the ingredients that make up the annual celebrations that day. But in reality, the occasion promotes the culture of male-female relations from a specific point of view.
               Anyone who looks at the myths surrounding this pagan festival will clearly understand the following :-
Thats its origin  lie in the pagan beliefs of the Romans, where it was an expression of spiritual love of the idols which they used to worship instead of Allah ta'ala.
                               The love referred to in this festival ever since the christians revived it is romantic love outside the framework of marriage. The result of that is the spread of Zinaa {fornication and adultery} and immorality.
                           Its a mistake to confuse what they call the day with what the real intentions are behind  it. The love referred to on this day  is rimantic love between lovers, boyfriends and girl friends. They are not talking of pure love between a man and his wife  or a woman and her husband , or at least they do not distinguish between the legitimate love in the relationship between  husband and wife, and the forbidden love of mistresses and lovers. This festival for them is a means for every one to express love.
                                 What these people think, that love before marriage is a good thing is wrong, as has been proven in studies  and by real-life  experience. In a study  conducted by the university of Cairo, on what they called "love marriage" and "traditional marriage", the following was stated : In marriages which came after  a love story 88% of cases ended in failure , i.e, the success rate was not more than 12%. But in cases of what the study calls traditional marriages, 70% were successful. In other words, the success rate in marriages described as traditional was six times more than those described as "love marriages". {Risaalah ila Mu'minah, p. 225}.

Celebrating Valentine's day is not permitted in islamic society for several reasons:
1. It is an innovated celebration which has no basis in sharee'ah.

2. It calls for people to keep their hearts and minds   busy with these foolish things that go against the guidance of the pious predecessors {May Allah ta'ala be pleased with them}, so it is not permitted on this day to do any of the customs associated with that hoiday, whether that be connected to food, drink, clothing, exchanging gifts or anything else.

The muslim should be proud of his religion and not be so weak of character that he follows everyone who makes a noise.

There are forms of expressing love that are religiosly acceptable. Among the love that's acceptable in islam are those that include the love for Prophets and Messengers. It stands to reason that love for Allah and then of our Prophet sallal lahu alaihi wasallam shud be the top priority. over all other forms of love. To   us muslims, every day is a "valentine" ; it is even better than any other culture. For example a husband treats his wife with love for whole year, not one time a year love resolution". The best amongst you are the best to their wives" [Hadith]
In islam , a husband loves his wife throughout the year and he expresses that love towards her with gifts, in verse and prose , in letters and words and in any other ways not just on one  day a year. There is no religion which encourges its followers to love and care for each other more than islam. Indeed Islam encourages us to express emotions and love at all times, as Prophet sallal lahu alaihi wasallam said ' If a man loves his brother let him tell that he loves him. [Narrated by Abu Dawud 5124 Al Tirmidhi 2329} And its a sahih hadith
To llove is a natural instinct and islam is  the religion of love and brotherhood. It always insists on good relations among the members of society. Allah ta'ala will provide shelter for those in His shadow when there is no other shadow than his. Reported by Imam muslim : Verily Allah would say on the day of Resurrection : Where are those who have natural love for my sake only? Today i shall shelter them in my shadow when there is no other shadow than mine".
Moreover the true love of the believers is a reason to enter the Paradise as Prophet sallal lahu alaihi wasallam said, " You shall not enter paradise so long as you do not affirm belief {in all those things which are the articles of faith}, and you will not believe  as long as you do not love one another. Should i not direct you to a thing which if u do would foster your love amongst you; Give currency to [THE PRACTICE OF SAYING AS'SALAMUALAIKUM} peace be on u.

Islam does recognize happy occasions that bring people closer to one another and add spice to their lives. But Islam goes against blind imiation regarding special occasions such as Valentine's day which is connected to myths and legends. Commemorating that spl day is an innovation of bida'h that has no religious backing. Every innovation of that kind is rejected , as far as islam is concerned. Islam requires all the people to love one another all the whole year and reducing the whole year  to a single day is totally rejected.